Casey Cook Selected Big West Player of the Week for the First Time

Dec 22, 2003

Dec. 22, 2003

IRVINE, Calif. -
UC Santa Barbara junior forward Casey Cook was selected the Big West Player of the Week after leading the Gauchos to their first win ever over UCLA and then scoring 16 points against sixth-ranked Kansas.

Cook led UCSB in scoring and rebounding in its historic win at Pauley Pavilion. He tallied a team-high 15 points and six rebounds against the Bruins, but more importantly, he scored the team's last four points, including the final two on a pair of free throws with 18 seconds remaining to give the Gauchos a 61-60 win. In addition, Cook stifled UCLA's final offensive effort, coming up with a steal with just under two seconds to play.

On Saturday, in UCSB's loss to sixth-ranked Kansas at Nevada's Dodge Holiday Classic, Cook again led the Gauchos with 16 points. He also added four rebounds and a pair if steals against the Jayhawks. On Sunday, in the final game of the tournament, Cook had eight points and six rebounds as Santa Barbara closed out its preseason schedule with a 63-53 win over Alabama State.

Cook is the first UCSB player to be selected Big West Player of the Week this year.